Electric switch



- ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 17, I1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Will --lnluu-l- Ivl' l l lalllmmuili MIL-Jammu. w n l. uw j@ H. H. OSBORN ELECTRIC SWITCH Feb. 1,1927. 1,616,217`

Filed July 17, "1922 2 SheetS--Sheei'I 2 z5 Za 2722/6 75 Mlmllllllmlllw| @l 72 6/ JQ Fatented Feb, il, Q?.

UNIRE S'ilES HOWARD H. OSBORN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, SSIGNOR TO H: G. FISCHER t CO., 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

` Application filed July 151922. Serial No. 575,444.

This invention relates" in general to elec- ,ric switches, and refers more particularly to' means for positively and sharply throwing a switch blade from one button to another, and for positively locking said blade in contact with any button to which it is turned.

A principalfobject of the invention is the provision offan improved type of switch operable without likelihood of the blade n sticking at any point and without likelihood of incomplete movement which would leave it in inoperative position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a switch of this character provided with means for positively holding the blade in any of its predetermined positions and ,requiring special and considerable eii'ort to move it from locked position, thus insuring against accidental throwing of the switch and inexact operation thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of switch operating mechanism of the positive character described, operable with equal facility in either direct1on, and without limit to its movement.

,Another and highly important object of the invention is the provision, in an electric switch construction, of locking means movable in its operation past center relatively to the point upon which 'it operates without appreciable movement of the blade carrying mechanism, and of spring means tensioned b isuch movement so as to subsequently tliro'wthe blade sharply from one of its contact points to another.

Une of the particular objects of the invention is the provision of a slot and roll connection between the blade carrying mech anism and the throwing and locking mechanisms which permits accomplishmento the ob'ects above stated.

humorous other objects and advanta es of .the invention will be apparent as it is etter understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accom panying drawings, discloses a preferred embodlment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l is a top lan view of a switch embodying ,the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. i;

Figure 3 is a plan view similar to'that of Fig. l, the parts being shown in dierent position and omittingY the operating knob;

lig. 4 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 4;-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1.

Upon the drawings illustrating my invention I have shown an insulated base member ll, adapted for attachment to asuftablc part of the apparatus with which it is to be employed, and having a plurality of-posts 12 extending therethrough and forming spaced apart contact points or but-tons 13 about the periphery of the plate 1l.` It will be understood that electric wires may be se-v cured to these points by means of nuts i4 and the posts may be provided in any des sired number according to particular requirements. The current conducting -upper Contact ring l5 is secured to the plate by means of screws 16 extending through projections 17 therein and through the plate il, collars 18 being provided between said ring and said plate to maintain the spaced relationship thereof and nuts 19 being iitted onto the inner ends of said screws 16. A blade 2l consisting of a plurality of copper leaves 22 arranged in upper and lower grou s and secured to a supporting arm 23 oy means of screws 24 and a block 25 are provided with oppositely turnedends 26 and 27 adapted to contact respectively with the ring l5 and the contact buttons'13. lt`he arm 23 is secured to a shaft 28 extending through a shouldered and externally threaded sleeve or block 29, a nut 3l being secured onto the block 29 and a cotter pin '32 holding the shaft against vertical movement. The shaft 28 has secured thereto by a pin 33 a lever 34 carryin at its outer end a depending post or pin 35 engaging in a slot 36 in a centrally pivoted lever 37. Both the arm 23 and the lever 37 are rotatable upon the shaft 28, the arm 23 being secured to a collar 38 by pins 39 and the lever 37 being carried between said collar `and a larger collar 4l therebeneath, a sleeve 42 upon the shaft forming a hearing surface i'or these last mentioned parts.

Upon the lever 37 are two posts 43 upon which are positioned two wire springs t having ends enga ed behind lugs 45, opposite and longer en s engaging in grooves 4G in the pin 35. A grooved central post i7 extends upwardly from the lever 37 and just behindvthe pin 3,5 when the latterv is centered 1n the slot 36, the purpose of this post being to prevent movement ofleither of the springsv past center, thus assisting in centering the lever 34.

A hand wheel -or knob 48 is secured by a screw 49 and a pin 51 to the shaft 28, and

- vided in the wall of a central'depression in the material of the plate 11. This member is carried on a pin 55 upon which also the end ofthe lever 37 is pivoted and a bell crank lever 56 has` one end loosely connected with' saidpinand is pivoted vat 57 onto a projection 58 of the lever 37, the opposite end of said bell crank being rovided with an upstanding post 59 to w ich is secured one end of a, spring 61 ha-ving its op osite end connected to a post 62 upstan ing from ya projection 63 on .the opposite side 'of the lever 37. The

arm 23- has an extension 64 provided with a triangular'slot 65 into which extends a roller 66 rotatabl secured upon the pin v55, all said parts eing held upon the pin 55 by cotter pins 67 and 68.

The lever 37 is provided witha slot 69 engaging a sleeve 71 on the pin 55 and actuation of said lever, 37 bythe lever' 34 moves saidpin 55 and theroller 66and sleeve 71 from the o sitions shown in Fig. 1 to those shown in 1g. 3, at the same time turning the locking member 52 and drawing inwardly the inner arm vof the bell crank lever 56. It will be observed that through the operation of the r'oller 66 in the slot 65 the ,movement to the position shownin Fig. 3 may be accomplished without appreciable movement of the arm 23 and such movement tensions the spring 61.V After the member 52 has turned past center of the ivot provided by one of the depending pms 53 engaging 1n one of the recesses '54 itsl movement will be sharply com leted andthe spring 61 serves to throw yt 1e arm 23 to the next button 13. In this manner the blade 21v is caused to maintain its .contact with one button until the actuating parts just described have been positively moved to* the position from which, by reason of the construction.

which I haveI provided,v they throw said blade to the next adjacent button.- balanfe and pressure of the parts in operation are such as to prevent an incom lete movement, since the spring 61 and the s ape of the member 52 practically necessitate engagement of two ofthe pins 53 in the re- The between said ring and one of the bnttons 13 'at all times and it is believed that the. eiiciency of the mechanism which I have provided will be manifest.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages willbe understood from the foregoing description, and it lwill be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of .the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invlention or sacicing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1. An electric switch, comprising abase, a plurality of contact buttons in said base, a current conducting member'spaced from said buttons, a switch blade adapted to communicate current from said member to one of the buttons, and operating .mechanism for said blade comprising a rectangular loiking member engaged at its corners in interior peripheral recesses in said base and means for moving saidmember about one of said recesses as a fulcrlun 'point lwith preliminary motion'A not apprcciably affecting said blade and'final motion exerting a s harp throwing action upon the blade to move it from onel of said buttons to another.

2. An electric switch, comprising 'a base, a plurality of contact buttons in said base, a current conducting. member spaced from said buttons, a switch blade adapted to communicate currentA from said member to one of the buttons, and operating mechanism for said blade comprising a pivoted locking member having parts engageable in re cesses spaced about the wall of a depression in said. base, a slotted arm carrying said blade, and means including a roll operable' in the slot of said arm for moving said locking member about said wall with preliminary motion not appreciably affecting said blade and final motion exerting a sharp throwingaction upon the blade to more it from onepof said buttons to another.

3f Anelectric switch, comprisinga base, a plurality of contact buttons in said base,

va current conducting member spaced from said buttons, a switch blade adapted to communicate current from said member to one to the buttons, and operating mechanism for said blade comprising a pivoted locking member having parts engageable in recesses spaced about the wall of a depression in said base, a slotted arm carrying said blade, means including a roll operable in the vslot ofsaid arm-for moving said locking member about said wall, and spring tensioned means for moving said arm with a sharp throwing action upon completion of the movement of said roll in said slot.

4. An electric switch, comprising a base, a plurality of contact buttons in said base, a current conducting member spaced from said buttons, a switch blade adapted to communicate currentfrom said member to one to the buttons, and operating mechanism for said blade comprising a manually operable shaft upon which the blade is pivoted,

a rigid operating arm extending from said shaft, a slotted lever operable kby said rigid arm and movable a distance independently' ot said blade,'a locking member operable by said lever and connections between said lever and said blade causing quick movement of the latter from one button to another after partial rotary movement of said locking member.

5. .An electric switch, comprising a base, a plurality of contact buttons in said base, a current conducting member spaced from said buttons, a switch blade adapted to comlnunicate current from said member to one of the buttons, and operating mechanism :forsaid blade comprising a locking member, 4actlvlating means for said member and said blade, and a roll and slot connection between said means and said blade whereby ,actuating means for sai said locking member may be partially moved by said means prior to actuation ofthe blade.

7. A control switch for electrical appa- .ratus colnprisng, a base, a plurality of contact buttons in said base, a current conducting member secured to said base and spaced from said contact buttons, a control 'shaft rotatably secured tosaid basel having an koperating handle and a switch operating arm secured thereto, a switch blade for shaft operating arm and the'switch blade and arranged for rolling contact with the arm for controlling the movement of said switch blade. i

8. A control switch or'electrical apparatns, comprising, a base, a plurality of contact buttons in said base, a current conducting member secured; to said base and spaced from said contact-buttons, a cont-rol shaft rotatably secured to said base having an operating handle and a switch operating arm secured thereto, a switch blade for transmitting current from said current con ducting member to one of said buttons pivotally secured to said control shaft, and means pivoted on said control shaft and engaging said operating arm and the switch blade for causing intermittent motion of the switch blade.

`9. A control switch forelectrical apparatus, comprising, a base, a plurality ot' contact buttons in said base, a current conduct-ing member secured to said base and spaced from said buttons, a control shaft rotatably secured to said base having an operating handle and a switch operating arm secured thereto, a switch blade 'for transmitting current from said current conducting member to one of said buttons pivotally secured to said control shaft, and means connecting said switch control arm and switch blade for controlling the movement of the switch blade, said means, comprising, a lever-pivoted intermediate its ends to the opera-ting shaft and yieldably engaging the switch operating arm at one end, and means pivoted to the other end of said lever engaging in a slotted portion of said switch blade and in recesses 1n the body.

10. A controlswitch for electrical lapparatus, comprising, a base, a plurality of contact buttons in said base, a current conducting member secured to said base and spaced from said contact buttons, a control shaft rotatably secured to said base having an operating handle and a switch operating arm secured thereto, a switch blade for transmitting current from said current conducting member'to one of said contact buttons pivotally secured to said control shaft, and means pivoted on said control shaft and interposed between the control shaft operating arm and the switch blade t'orcoutrolling the movement of the switch blade, said means including a rotatable device havmg rolling contact with the base.

' HOWARD H. OSBORN. 

